The Legend of Cancer Cancer: portion of the night sky into which the sun "walks like a crab," sideways. It is the position of the sun during the summer solstice. The sun enters, stays for a few days, and walks out backward. This constellation was also used by sailors to forecast weather conditions. A dim, misty patch named Praesepe, the beehive, predicted bad weather if it wasn't visible in a clear sky. Within the area of the sky occupied by the crab lay the Gate of Man through which souls descended into human bodies.
Greece: classically the crab was rewarded by Hera with this important position in the sky after pinching Hercules on the foot while he fought the Hydra. See the Greek legend of Hercules.
Early Christianity: the manger occupies this position in the sky. Said to be the manger in which the Christ Child was born. It is visible from December to June. The two brightest stars of the constellation are said to be the donkeys present when the Child was born.Back to the Constellations
